Junior Innovators Challenge 2026

The competition invites young learners from KG 1 to Grade 4 in Academic Year 2026–2027 to showcase their creativity, imagination capacity, critical thinking, teamwork, communication skills, problem-solving ability, and innovation potential as part of the National Science, Technology and Innovation (NSTI) Festival.

Challenge Step by Step
This timeline outlines the three key stages of the Junior Innovators Challenge — from school nomination through to the final on-site event at the NSTI Festival. Each stage has been designed to support learning, structured development, and age-appropriate participation.
Stage 1 — School Nomination & Registration

Schools nominate eligible students (KG 1 to Grade 4 in Academic Year 2026–2027) through the approved registration platform. Each school may nominate up to five (5) students per category (4 out of 5 must be a UAE National), with a maximum of fifteen (15) students in total (across all eligible categories).

In each registration form, each nominated student will also need to submit a short qualification video. The video is the primary assessment tool for Stage 1 and focuses on communication skills, confidence, and the student's ability to present an age-appropriate innovative idea clearly.

What Schools Need to Do

  • Assign a school coordinator or supervisor to manage students’ nominations and submissions
  • Create or access an account on the approved platform
  • Add student profiles and assign to the correct competition category
  • For each nominated student, upload the student’s video and the signed parent/guardian consent form
  • Submit the completed nomination before the Stage 1 deadline

Required Registration Information

  • Supervisor name, email, mobile, job title, school name, school type, emirate, and school city
  • Student full name (Arabic and English as per Emirates ID)
  • Student grade, gender, nationality (Emirati/Non-Emirati), Emirates ID
  • Parent/guardian contact details
  • Competition category selection: Category A, B, or C
  • Signed media consent form uploaded through the platform
  • Supervisor declaration confirming accuracy, eligibility, consent, and originality of submitted information

Video Requirements

  • Duration: Minimum 30 seconds, maximum 120 seconds
  • Format: MP4 or MOV — horizontal (16:9 aspect ratio), single video file (not segmented uploads)
  • Maximum file size: 1 GB — single video file only
  • Dress code: Students must appear in official school uniform
  • Quality: Clear image and audio; no professional editing, effects, or voice-over replacement
  • Language: Submissions may be in Arabic or English — language will not affect the score

Required Video Content

  • Student full name, grade, school name, and emirate
  • Brief introduction to interests, achievements, and aspirations
  • Short explanation of an innovative idea that could address a problem
  • Clear, confident communication in simple, age-appropriate language

Videos must not include professional editing, voice-over replacement, artificial effects, subtitles generated by adults, or any enhancement that may affect fairness of assessment.

Stage 2 — Qualification

Stage 2 Assessment Rubric

Criterion Weight What Judges Look For
Communication Skills 30% Student speaks clearly and can be understood.
Idea Clarity 20% Student explains the idea, interest, or problem in a simple way.
Confidence and Presence 15% Student appears comfortable, engaged, and ready.
Creativity of Idea 15% Student shares an original or imaginative idea suitable for their age.
Personal Understanding 10% Student demonstrates understanding without excessive adult prompting.
Age Appropriateness 10% Presentation matches the student's age and grade level.

Following video evaluation, up to 150 students (approximately 50 from each category) will be selected to proceed to Stage 3. Final numbers are subject to confirmation by the Ministry of Education.

Announcement of results will happen on 12 October 2026.

Stage 3 — On-Site Challenge Performance

Qualified students participate in age-appropriate individual and group challenges during the NSTI Festival. Each category competes on a separate day, in a structured and exciting in-person format.

Competition Days

  • Category A (KG 1–KG 2) — Day 1
  • Category B (Grades 1–2) — Day 2
  • Category C (Grades 3–4) — Day 3

Stage 3 Assessment Rubric

Criterion Weight What Judges Look For
Innovative thinking, creativity and Imagination 15% Student use ideas, materials, or information in a creative way.
Problem-Solving 15% Student tries different ways to solve the challenge.
Critical Thinking 10% Student observes, compares, thinks, and makes simple decisions.
Teamwork and Cooperation 10% Student works positively with others, shares, listens, and participates.
Communication and Explanation 10% Student can explain what they did or why they chose a solution.
Task Completion 10% Student completes the task or makes strong progress within the time.
Following Instructions 10% Student listens to instructions and follows challenge rules.
Curiosity and Engagement 10% Student shows interest, asks questions, explores, and stays involved.
Resilience and Adaptability 5% Student keeps trying when the task is difficult or adjusts approach.
Safety and Respectful Behaviour 5% Student uses materials safely and respects others and organisers.
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